“We can have conversations with spirits when you get big enough?”
(Correct,) the fenrir confirmed.
“And this is what you turn into?”
(We can take many different forms.)
(We can even become humanoid,) the dragon added.
Wait, wait, wait!
“Deirdre! What’s happening?!”
“Father, apparently spirits can take a human shape once they grow up enough!”
“Incredible!”
“I brought my spirits into the bath with me! They saw me in the bath!” I’d known they had emotions, but I hadn’t realized they were this conscious! They should’ve told me they could become human! “Oh, but they’re my spirits, so please don’t kill them.” My father seemed to be seeing red all of a sudden.
Don’t whip out your sword like that, father!
The rest of my family had run over out of concern, and everyone else had gathered around out of curiosity about the commotion.
Dennis—the one who’d caused all this commotion to begin with—was now frozen on the spot, half driven to tears by the sudden appearance of a giant wolf and a dragon in front of him. I doubted he’d expected the situation to get so crazy when all he’d done was threaten a weak-looking girl a little.
Harry was still grabbing Dennis’s arm, and though he also seemed rooted to the ground, his eyes were positively sparkling at the sight of the large creatures that had appeared in front of him. He probably wanted to ruffle the fenrir’s fur. Don’t worry. I’ll give you a shot later.
Iris also stood stock-still, eyes wide as she clung to me, and Rex also seemed paralyzed where he stood, sandwiched between the spirit beasts. In other words, everyone was frozen in shock.
Except for me, that is. Round of applause, please.
Because of everyone’s fearful reactions, though, my father was ready to strike the spirit beasts down. My priority right now was to get him to stop.
“Calm down, father. I’m perfectly fine.”
(Why is your father so angry?)
The fire fenrir really was quite big—both sitting and standing, they towered above me. When they nudged me with their head, they almost knocked me over. Even though their body was covered in fire, it strangely wasn’t hot to the touch, and it was really cute when they rubbed against me.
“Because you’ve seen me naked in the bath.”
(The bath?) The fenrir didn’t seem to understand what I meant.
(Are you referring to when you wash yourself?)
The water dragon felt a bit out of place in this very European-style world, but dragons definitely fell under the category of sacred beasts in my mind. Since they were a dragon, their eyes were bright and large, and they had a long beard. Their large mouth featured sharp fangs. It was the type of face that would make any kid cry. But because this dragon was so small, it was very cute instead. Are they still a child? Or can they change their size at will? Their eyes appeared kind, and their scales were glittering prettily in the sunshine. Coupled with the light that looked just like a river flowing atop their scales, it was a beautiful sight to behold.
The dragon was gently wrapping their tail around me like a snake.
Am I becoming Tarzan? Is this okay? Are we not drifting a bit too far from the medieval European aesthetic?
While I was busy playing with my spirit beasts, my brothers calmed my father down and got him to sheathe his sword. Wasn’t there an issue more pressing than them having seen me in the bath? I realize I was the one who mentioned it first, admittedly.
“You’re forbidden from going in the bath with me again!”
(That is fine,) said the fenrir. (We will wait in the neighboring room.)
“You’ll be okay apart from me?”
(Such a distance is more than fine.)
(Only spirits without a sense of self cannot leave their master,) explained the dragon. (The ones near you will pose no problem.)
(If you cannot speak to them, they are yet to possess their own will.)
So I had been right—talking to them was important.
“Is it all right if I touch you?”
(But of course.)
(We are your spirits.)
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! They had already been leaning against me, but I hadn’t been sure if they would be okay with me touching them back. It seemed to make them happy, though. The fenrir was all floofy, and the dragon was cold but nice to touch. I’d love to use their body as a bed when summer really hits.
My wind and earth spirits were floating around as if trying to make sure I wouldn’t forget them, so I gathered some mana in my palm for them to eat. I wonder what kinds of spirit beasts these guys will become.
“We’d better let everyone know about this issue, especially the girls,” my father said.
“Yes, father. What shall we do about him?” Chris’s cold gaze had naturally turned to Dennis.
I’d taken Iris’s and Harry’s hands and pulled them away from the conversation, letting them play with the fluffy and cold beasts as thanks for trying to protect me. If their minds hadn’t changed in five years, I’d decided I’d let them serve me.
“How about we hear exactly what was said from Rex back at the castle?” father suggested.
“Goodness, do forgive this fool of mine,” Sebas, the head steward of the Belisarios, said.
“But it was a worthwhile conversation, wasn’t it?” Rex shrugged.
Sebas was bowing in apology, but Rex was smirking without even a touch of guilt. Sebas was Rex’s granddad, by the way.
“Just what were you letting these children overhear?” father demanded.
“He most likely thought that the children wouldn’t understand what they were hearing,” Sebas sighed.
“Excuse me?” father objected. “Deir could understand such a conversation easily.”
“My lord, that is because the young lady is especially gifted. It would be difficult for most other children.”
“Will Lord Chris and Lord Alan not be bored when they go to the academy?” Rex asked. “They’ll be surrounded by no one but children.”
“They’re children themselves, you know,” Sebas pointed out.